Jackson Speaks to Fedora, Disch

Don Callahan

12/19/2011

Among the North Carolina verbal commitments, none were more excited about Larry Fedora's hiring than Joseph Jackson. Thus, it was only fitting that Jackson was among the first recruits Fedora called after being named head coach. That conversation was followed up a week later by another UNC recruiter.

"I talked to Coach Disch within the last week and I talked to Coach Fedora when he first got the job," Jackson said.

"[Fedora and I] weren't on the phone too long. He basically gave me all the facts. He told me he was going to be the new head coach and he was going to have a new staff coming through. He said he'd still love to have me."

Jackson's fondness for Fedora began well before he was a candidate for the UNC job.

"I actually had met the whole Southern Miss coaching staff a long time ago," Jackson said. "They're real good friends with my D-coordinator at my high school. So I was already real familiar with them. I liked them a lot, so having them come to UNC was actually a blessing."

Jackson's conversation with Disch occurred late last week.

"[Disch] said he's going to run a fast paced defense that I would fit great into," Jackson said. "He didn't say this, but I've been hearing they're going to run a 4-2-5. That was just what I heard, I haven't had a chance to talk to [Fedora or Disch] about the defense they're going to run."

UNC's previous regime projected Jackson as a hybrid linebacker/safety with an emphasis on linebacker. Fedora's staff also sees Jackson as a hybrid linebacker/safety, but will stress the safety position more.

"I can play everywhere in the back seven, so I can fall in wherever I can get on the field early at," Jackson said.

Disch's connections with Jackson don't end at their meeting a while back. Disch has coached high school football in Jacksonville at Ed White High School.

"That's another plus – him being where I'm from," Jackson said. "He knows the whole mentality of a Jacksonville player.

Disch's Jacksonville connection should only help UNC's chances with Jackson's teammate Reggie Northrup, who is verbally committed to Miami but still considering the Tar Heels.

"Reggie is real familiar with Coach Disch," Jackson said. "That could play into it. I know [Northrup] took an official to Miami, but he's still looking into his options. I'm not going to rule out North Carolina as being a school he ends up at. But up at the moment, it's up in the air with him."

Jackson wasn't sure if Fedora or any other UNC coach had contacted Northrup.

After a great start, Jackson's and Northrup's senior season ended on a sour note. They were defeated 40-0 by Bradenton (Fla.) Manatee in the FHSAA 7A Championship game on Friday. Prior to that game, First Coast was undefeated.

"As a team, we just didn't get started," Jackson said. "We just didn't play as a unit. I don't think as a team we played to the best of our abilities. There's really not too much to say about it."